Hello, friends. We continue reading in Jeremiah 5-10.
These chapters are sobering. I found myself feeling sad reading much of this (Jeremiah is called The Weeping Prophet, which makes sense!). Jeremiah continues to warn the people, at God’s direction, predicting the coming judgment. I sense an urgency in his words. Why, I wonder, does God warn Israel HE is bringing a nation against them? This can’t be good. They are given graphic details of the disaster to come: income taken away, families broken up, people scattered about, even death (Why is he warning the nation of Israel? Why aren’t the godless nations getting the same warnings?).
Over and over we see the people not only rejecting God, but becoming more resistant. Even their leaders practiced deceit (Jeremiah 6:13,14; 9:11) by downplaying the sins of the nation, saying “it’s not that bad.” Still, they refused to repent and felt no shame for worshipping idols.
Ch. 10 is a cry from God—vs. 2: “Do not learn the ways of the nations.” The Message says it like this: “Don’t take the godless nations as your models” (Am I more influenced by those in the spotlight rather than those in the kingdom? What does God say about the values of the athlete/politician/artist? Am I so influenced by the world I am in that I overlook or even excuse sin?).
Yahweh—the God of Israel—is greater than any idol. There IS none like him. He is the one true God, all-powerful, who was, is, and is to come. He deserves our complete devotion.
This chapter ends with a prayer from Jeremiah, praying as though the invasion from Babylon had happened. The shepherds (leaders) are complacent, the nation is desolate, he himself is in despair and asks God to punish those invading Israel.
Again, I ask myself—why? Why did God not punish the godless nations? Why did he keep warning them? Were they exceptionally thick-skulled?? Why is this in the Bible?
I believe God gave many warnings to give them a chance to repent. His desire was for purity, not just following laws. He truly did not want to inflict hardship, but warned that if they persisted, that’s what would happen.
Why punish the Israelites, and not the nations that led them in idol worship (He does do this later.)? I can reach back to my childhood for this; my parents reminded us more than once that we have a different standard than the world. The Israelites were held accountable because God told them the standard by which to live.
And why is this in the Bible? What does this have to do with me? Like the Israelites, we are held to a different standard. I don’t need to concern myself if others are getting their just reward; I am responsible for my own heart, regardless of those around me. God sends us warnings, and some of the predictions that were true for Israel are true in our nation today. Scattered families? Unemployment? Look at the news if you don’t see this in your neighborhood.
My hope and comfort is in this: God is still calling us to him. He directs our steps. It is never too late to repent. Jeremiah 9:24 says “but let the one who boasts boast about this: that they have understanding to know me, that I am the Lord, who exercises kindness, justice and righteousness on earth, for in these I delight.” Lord, give each of us understanding to know you.
What a blessing to know when we respond to God’s call he will direct us in every area of our lives! Friends, my prayer is we will all live in this knowledge.
